Abstract

From 21 to 22 of August 2008, the Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and
Development hosted a workshop at Eastport, Newfoundland. The workshop was entitled
“Memorial University – Community Research Partnerships: Resource Management in Marine
and Freshwater Environments.” Its purpose was to bring together faculty and staff of Memorial
University, policy makers, and community members to discuss the issues and opportunities
surrounding the Indian Bay watershed and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) (see Appendix A,
Agenda). The workshop featured two research projects supported by the Harris Centre Applied
Research Fund, and consisted of presentations and question and answer/discussion periods on
research partnerships in Indian Bay and MPAs, an evening presentation from Dr. Art May, and a
session of panel discussions led by representatives from governments, unions, and community
organizations (see Appendix B, List of Participants).
Workshop participants, stakeholder organizations, and the public more generally
speaking will have access to this report. While the workshop itself generated considerable
discussion and debate and helped to facilitate the exchange of information about both marine and
freshwater fisheries management, it is hoped that this is merely a beginning. That is, the aim of
the workshop was in part to begin a discussion, and it is hoped that participants, as well as any
other interested parties, will provide comments and feedback both about the meeting that has
taken place, about future possibilities for engaging in dialogue about the management of these
resources, and the role of university research in informing dialogue and resource management.
Given the diversity of the representatives at the meeting, it is not surprising that the
presentations and panels inspired discussion of a wide array of topics and that a plethora of
views, interests, questions, and concerns emerged from the workshop. Generally speaking,
however, a myriad of comments, questions, suggestions, and so on revolved around two basic
themes – governance and knowledge mobilization. The following report, therefore, is organized
around these subjects.